Fitbit Blaze update adds third-party notifications, new watch faces

The Fitbit Blaze's software update adds features to the fitness tracker.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The Fitbit Blaze is getting an update. Fitbit announced on Monday that its fitness smartwatch will soon receive an update that enables third-party notifications and other new features.

The Blaze, which costs $200 in the US (£160 in the UK and AU$330 in Australia), was released earlier this year. The watch can track steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes and sleep. It was also the first Fitbit that could display incoming calls, text messages and calendar alerts when connected to an iPhone or Android phone.

Users will soon be able to view notifications from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Gmail and other third-party apps. The update will also add five new watch faces to the Blaze, which brings the total to nine, and a new move reminder feature.

The feature was previously found in the Fitbit Alta and is included on the new Charge 2 and Flex 2. Rather than a basic "stand" or "move" reminder, the Blaze will now encourage users to meet a mini-step goal of 250 steps each hour. If the goal hasn't been reached 10 minutes prior to the top of the hour, the watch will gently vibrate to remind you to get up and go.